Multiple-compartment china carton



Jan. 4, 1966 w, c, Mc u 3,227,267

MULT I PLE-COMPARTMENT CHI NA CARTON Filed Jan. 22, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM C. MCBURNEY BY M Afforneys W. C. M BURNEY MULTIPLE-COMPARTMENT CHINA CARTON Jan. 4, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet z Filed Jan. 22, 1962 FIG. 4

INVENTOR.

WILLIAM C. McBURNEY A horneys United States Patent 3,227,267 MULTIPLE-CQMPARTMENT CHINA CARTON William C. McBurney, New Castle, Pa., assignor to Shenango China, Inc., New Castle, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Jan. 22, 1962, Ser. No. 167,523 12 Claims. (Cl. 20ti-45.11)

This invention relates generally to carton constructions that are characterized by a plurality of internal compartments. More specifically, the invention pertains to a multiple compartment, combined shipping, display, and storage carton that is particularly suitable for containing a plurality of complete place settings of china.

Various inconveniences and difficulties have heretofore existed in shipping, displaying and storing fine china. For example, the most conventional practice of packaging china for shipment has been to use separate cartons for each individual piece, or at least to use a separate carton for packing pieces of the same kind, that is, separate cartons for cups, saucers, dinner plates, and .bread-ancl-but-,

ter plates; This conventional practice has been expensive and also inconvenient, since it. requires that the several pieces of china making up a complete place setting must be separated for shipping and then later reassembled for display. This practice is, of course, time-consuming,but, more importantly, the repeated handling of the china, and the manner in which the pieces are usually'stacked for storage, involves the risk that the china may be broken, chipped, or scratched. The danger of accidental breakage or other damage as might render the china unfit for sale is further enhanced by the fact that the china is usually not protected against being scratched, chipped and the like when it is stored.

When the china has been sold, it is again necessary to re-handle each piece and pack it with care to avoid breakage and damage. And when finally received by the customer, the china may again bekept for use in cupboards or shelves where it may be damaged.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a single carton that ,may be used to ship the china from the factory, display it for sale, and store it for use by the ultimate purchaser.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a combined shipping, display and storage carton construction that may advantageously be used for containing a plurality of complete place settings, of china in: a single carton. V

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel, compact shipping carton for china that minimizes danger of breaking the china during handling of the carton.

A further object of the invention is to provide a multiple compartment carton in which all compartments are accessible at the same end of the carton so that the contained articles can be conveniently displayed and stored without removing them from the carton.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a carton as described above which may be-inexpensively manufactured by conventional fabricating techniques and apparatus.

The foregoing disadvantages of the prior art are overcome and the objects of the invention achieved by a novel carton constructionincluding a bottom compartment section that is accessible through an opening on one side. An integral top frontcompartment section is formed above the bottom compartment and is accessible through the same side of the carton asthe bottom section. A top, rear compartment section, which preferably is symmetrical with the top front compartment, is also formed above the bottom compartment, and includes a side that may be opened for access to it. For shipping purposes,

3,227,267 Patented Jan. 4, 1966 the two top compartments are disposed back-to-back with the openable wall of the top rear compartment at the opposite side of the carton from the side openable for access to the bottom and top front compartments. When the two top compartments are held together by both a hinged connection and other means connecting them together as well as by means also connecting the top rear compartment to the bottom compartment during shipment, the back-to-back walls of the top compartment constitute a transverse and extra-strong stiffening rib which strengthens the entire shipping carton in general and, in particular, the normally vulnerable side walls, thereby reducing breakage. When the carton is prepared for display, the top rear compartment section may be swung about its hinged connection with the top front compartment to position it on top of the front compartment section, whereby compartments may be opened for display at a common side. i As will hereinafter be made more apparent, the bottom compartment section is constructed to hold a plurality of dinner plates, While the two top compartment sections are adapted to contain cups, saucers, and bread-and-butter plates. Further, the carton forms a protective support for the china while being shipped, displayed and stored so as to reduce the danger of its being broken or damaged.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings of a specific embodiment.

In the drawings: FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the invention showing the carton arranged for shipping;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line 2 -2 of FIG. 1;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical cross sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1; and

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view showing the carton of the invention arranged for display.

Reference is now made to the drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment 10 of the novel multiple compartment shipping, display and storage carton comprising the present invention. In the form shown in the drawings, the carton 10 includes a bottom compartment 11,

.a top front compartment 12, and a top rear compartment The carton 10 is comprised of a rectangular bottom 14 and two L-shaped side walls 15. A common horizontal partition 16 connected to the legs of the L-shaped side walls extends parallel to the bottom 14 to constitute the top of the bottom compartment 11 and the'bottom of the top front compartment 12. The rear of the bottom rear of the top front compartment 12 is closed by a wall V 18 joined to the horizontal partition 16, side walls 15 and top 19 for the top front compartment 12. The fronts ment 12 may be closed by a common wall 20 hinged to the bottom 14. When the cartonis closed for shipping or storage, the'hinged front wall 20 is fastened to the edges of the side Walls 15 and top front compartment top 19, usually by a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape 21. This tape may be readily removed to permit the hinged front wall 20 to be hinged beneath the bottom 14.

' The top rear compartment 13 is usually formed as a separate box to fill the void in the incomplete right prismatic structure formed by the bottom compartment and the top front compartment, due to the L-shaped side walls 15. When so positioned (see FIG. 1), the top rear compartment comprises a bottom 22, side walls 23, top 24, and a back wall 25 joined together at their edges, the back wall 25 abutting the rear wall 18 of the top front compartment. The top rear compartment is closed by a wall 25 hingedly joined to the bottom 22 and, when closed for shipping, it is usually secured to the top 24 by a removable tape 27. The top 24 of the top rear compartment and the top of the top front compartment are relatively permanently joined together as by a tape 28 which acts as a hinged connection for the two top compartments.

The horizontal dimension of the hollow compartment 11 is selected to provide space for the desired number of plates of the place settings (four in this embodiment )to be shipped, displayed, and stored in the carton; the vertical dimension is selected to permit the plates to be held in spaced relationship. To permit such mounting and spacing of the plates in the bottom compartment, each side of the bottom compartment is provided with spacer partitions 29 having slots 30 receiving the rims of the plates 31 to support and space them, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The two top compartments are adapted to contain the cups, saucers, and bread-and-butter plates of the plate settings. In this particular embodiment, the saucers and bread-and-butter plates are contained in the top front compartment, separated into a sub-compartment 32 for the bread-and-butter plates and a sub-compartment 33 for the saucers by a vertical divider 34. The rear compartment 13 is intended to contain the cups and, for shipment and display, this compartment is provided with removable cushioning supports 35. To support the saucers and bread-and-butter plates for shipment and display, the sub-compartments 32 and 33 may be provided with slotted spacer partitions (not shown) similar to the spacer partition 29, to support this dishware by its rims.

When the carton ltl, packed with four place settings as described above, is received and is to be opened for retail display, the wall is hinged underneath the bottom 14 to open the bottom and top front compartments, the top rear compartment is hinged so that its top 24 rests on the top 19 of the top front compartment and its hinged wall 26 is then hinged back against the former bottom wall 22 to open it on the same side as the bottom and top front compartments are opened. For purposes of display, the cup cushion 35 and spacer partitions of the top front compartment are usually removed, as shown in FiG. 4.

After the china has been sold, the spacers and cushions may be returned to the top compartments, the ware packed therein and the top rear compartment folded back to the right prismatic form of the carton as shown in FIG. 1.

Upon receipt by the customer, it is usually reverted to its display position, as shown in FIG. 4, for storage of the ware between uses.

The carton is usually made of strong paperboard, fiberboard, or the like sheet material, or the compartments may be made of molded or drawn rigid plastic or plastic sheeting. With suitable material, the carton is a strong, compact carton for shipping and a durable carton for storage; it is usually made with a decorated outer cover paper or foil to enhance its appearance both as a display carton and as storage cartons in the home. As is evident, it entails a minimum of handling of the ware to place it on display and to repack for shipment to the customer.

It is obvious that the particular arrangement of subcompartments or manner of hinging the compartments together may be varied by those skilled in the art with out departing from the spirit of this invention. Because such variation may be made, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiment disclosed but only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A multiple compartment carton for shipping, storage, and display comprising a bottom compartment, a top front compartment integral therewith and having a common vertical side, a common vertical wall for said side of said carton and closing both the top front and bottom compartments at said side, said common vertical wall being hinged to permit said compartments to be opened for display, said top front compartment being lesser in depth, with respect to said common wall than said bottom section, a rear top compartment having a depth equal to the difference between the depth of said bottom compartment and the depth of said top front compartment and a height equal to the height of said top front compartment, said rear top compartment being disposable in a back-to-back relationship to said top front compartment, a hinged connection between said top compartments at the line of juncture of their backs most removed from said bottom section, and a rear wall carried by said rear compartment and hinged thereto, whereby, when said rear top compartment is swung forwardly with respect to said top front compartment to place the top rear compartment on the top of said top front compartment, both said hinged walls may be opened to display at one side of the carton the contents of all compartments.

2. A multiple compartment shipping, storage, and display carton particularly suitable for containing complete place settings of china comprising a bottom compartment section accessible at one side of said carton, a top front compartment section integral with said bottom compartment section, said top front compartment section being accessible at said one side of said carton, and a discrete, symmetrical top rear compartment section having an openable wall at the opposite side of said carton, said symmetrical top compartment sections being disposed in back-to-back adjacency and hingedly connected at their upper back edges whereby said top rear section can be swung forwardly and turned upside down on top of said top front section to place said openable wall at said one side of said carton.

3. A rectangular, multiple compartment shipping, storage, and display carton particularly suited to contain complete place settings of china comprising, a bottom section defining a bottom compartment in the lower portion of said carton, said bottom compartment being accessible at one side providing a front end for said carton, and a pair of discrete, symmetrical top sections coextensively disposed over said bottom section in back-toback adjacency to define the upper portion of said carton, one of said top sections being integrally connected to the lower portion of said carton and defining a top front compartment accessible at said front end of said carton, and the other of said top sections defining a to rear compartment having an omnable wall at the rear of said carton, said top sections being hingedly connected at their upper edges for permitting said rear top section to be swung forwardly and turned upside down to rest on top of said top front section to place said openable wall at the front end of said carton.

4. The carton as claimed in claim 3 wherein said bottom compartment section includes means for holding a plurality of dinner plates therein.

5. The carton as claimed in claim 4 wherein a top compartment section is vertically partitioned into at least two sub-compartments.

6. A multiple compartment, shipping, storage, and display carton particularly suitable for containing complete place settings of china including a horizontal wall for defining a bottom compartment in the lower portion of said carton, said bottom compartment being accessible at one end of said carton, a top front compartment above said horizontal wall, said top front compartment being integral with the lower portion of said carton and being accessible at said one end thereof, and a top rear compartment having an openable wall at the opposite end of said carton, said top rear compartment being formed by a discrete carton section normally resting on said horizontal wall in back-to-bacl; adjacency to said top front compartment, said discrete carton section being hingedly connected to the upper back edge of said top front compartment for permitting said section to be swung forwardly and turned upside down to rest on top of said top front compartment and dispose said openable wall toward said one end of said carton.

7. A multiple compartment shipping, storage, and display carton particularly suitable for containing complete place settings of china including a horizontal wall for defining a bottom compartment in the lower portion of said carton, said bottom compartment being accessible at one end of said carton, a top front compartment above said horizontal wall, said top front compartment being integral with the lower portion of said carton and being accessible at said one end thereof, and a top rear compartment symmetrical with said top front compartment, said top rear compartment being formed by a discrete carton section normally resting on said horizontal wall in back-toback adjacency to said top front compartment and having an openable wall at the opposite end of said carton, said discrete carton section being hingedly connected to the upper back edge of said top front compartment for permitting said section to be swung forwardly and turned upside down to rest on top of said top front compartment and dispose said openable wall at said one end of said carton.

8. A rectangular, multiple compartment shipping storage, and display carton particularly suitable for containihg complete place settings of china including a horizontal wall for defining a bottom compartment in the lower portion of said carton, said bottom compartment being accessible at one end of said carton, a top front compartment extending above part of said horizontal wall, said top front compartment being integral with the lower portion of said carton and being accessible at said one end thereof, and a top rear compartment symmetrical with said top front compartment, said top rear compartment being formed by a discrete carton section norm-ally resting on the remaining part of said horizontal wall in 'back-toback adjacency to said top front compartment and having an openable wall at the opposite end of said carton, said discrete carton section being hingedly connected to the upper back edge of said top front compartment for permitting said section to be swung forwardly and turned upside down to rest on top of said top front compartment and dispose said openable wall at said one end of said carton.

9. The carton as claimed in claim 8 wherein said bottom compartment includes means for holding a plurality of dinner plates.

10. The carton as claimed in claim 8 wherein a top compartment is vertically divided into at least two subcompartments.

11. A carton as defined in claim 8 including means for detachably securing said top rear compartment to said bottom compartmentand in back-to-back contacting relationship to said top front compartment during use of said carton for shipping, whereby walls of the top rear cornpartment and adjacent and contacting walls in the balance of the carton constitute transverse stiffening ribs reinforcing the side walls of the shipping carton to lessen breakage of contents packaged therein.

12. A multiple-compartmented shipping and display carton comprising (a) a larger carton unit of L-shaped cross-section, the outer walls of which comprise a pair of L-shaped parallel side walls, a rectangular bottom wall, a front wall hinged to the bottom wall and adapted to close the front of the larger unit, and a pair of back walls and a pair of top walls,

(b) a smaller carton unit of rectangular cross-section interfitted in the re-entrant portion of the L-shaped larger carton unit forming a combined carton comprised of said la'nger and smaller units, said combined carton having a rectangular cross section,

(c) a wall of said smaller carton unit, constituting the rear wall of said smaller unit, said rear wall being hinged along an edge parallel to the front of said larger unit, and

(d) hinge means connecting said larger and smaller units at the juncture of the upper surfaces of said larger and smaller units whereby said smaller unit may be swung forwardly from its inter-fitted position to a position on top of said larger unit and said hinged walls may be swung open to positions parallel to said bottom wall to provide an openfronted display carton.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,951,408 3/1934 Haven 206 -45.11 2,391,243 12/1945 Hutton 206-12 2,685,882 8/1954 Martin 206--45.11 2.713531 7/1955 Boone 312 351 FOREIGN PATENTS 57,029 12/1939 Denmark.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

V EARLE I DRUMMOND, GEORGE O. RALSTON,

Examiners. 

1. A MULTIPLE COMPARTMENT CARTON FOR SHIPPING, STORAGE, AND DISPLAY COMPRISING A BOTTOM COMPARTMENT, A TOP FRONT COMPARTMENT INTEGRAL THEREWITH AND HAVING A COMMON VERTICAL SIDE, A COMMON VERTICAL WALL FOR SAID SIDE OF SAID CARTON AND CLOSING BOTH THE TOP FRONT AND BOTTOM COMPARTMENTS AT SAID SIDE, SAID COMMON VERTICAL WALL BEING HINGED TO PERMIT SAID COMPARTMENTS TO BE OPENED FOR DISPLAY, SAID TOP FRONT COMPARTMENT BEING LESSER IN DEPTH, WITH RESPECT TO SAID COMMON WALL THAN SAID BOTTOM SECTION, A REAR TOP COMPARTMENT HAVING A DEPTH EQUAL TO THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE DEPTH OF SAID BOTTOM COMPARTMENT AND THE DEPTH OF SAID TOP FRONT COMPARTMENT AND A HEIGHT EQUAL TO THE HEIGHT OF SAID TOP FRONT COMPARTMENT, SAID REAR TOP COMPARTMENT BEING DISPOSABLE IN A BACK-TO-BACK RELATIONSHIP TO SAID TOP FRONT COMPARTMENT, A HINGED CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID TOP COMPARTMENTS AT THE LINE OF JUNCTURE OF THEIR BACKS MOST REMOVED FROM SAID BOTTOM SECTION, AND A REAR WALL CARRIED BY SAID REAR COMPARTMENT AND HINGED THERETO, WHEREBY, WHEN SAID REAR TOP COMPARTMENT IS SWUNG FORWARDLY WITH RESPECT TO SAID TOP FRONT COMPARTMENT TO PLACE THE TOP REAR COMPARTMENT ON THE TOP OF SAID TOP FRONT COMPARTMENT, BOTH SAID HINGED WALLS MAY BE OPENED TO DISPLAY AT ONE SIDE OF THE CARTON THE CONTENTS OF ALL COMPARTMENTS. 